Tait slams CA for losing central contract

Melbourne, May 16 (IANS) Speedster Shaun Tait lashed out at Cricket Australia (CA) after losing his central contract, saying it has come as a ‘bit of a kick in the teeth’. Tait, who was left out of the new CA contract Thursday, said he will now turn to English domestic cricket and also look to playing lucrative T20 tournaments.

“When you think you’re ready to go and play, and obviously Cricket Australia had it in their mind that they wanted me for future tournaments to not let you go (for Indian Premier League), and not pick you in a squad and then not give you a contract, is a little bit of a kick in the teeth,” a furious Tait was quoted as saying in the Australian media Saturday.

The injury-prone bowler did not get the permission to play in the IPL by CA physio on the grounds of his serious hamstring injury.

Tait admitted he felt cheated by CA for ruling him out of IPL before sacking him as a contracted player.

Moreover, Tait was not selected in the squad for the recent one-day series against Pakistan, and will not feature in the T20 world series as well.

Tait has been left an estimated $700,000 out of pocket for being denied a chance to play for Rajasthan Royals and then losing his CA contract.

Tait though said that he was not surprised of the recent developments.

“I would have been surprised if I did get (a contract), I think.”

“My problem is my body has obviously cost me over the last couple of years. I am lucky enough to have things like the (IPL) going for me. So to be dropped off the contract is not the end of the world, and the other thing is I can still play for Australia.”

The South Australian said he was close to full pace after recently resuming net bowling following a long layoff with an injury.

“I’ll look for some options in England, just for some county or league cricket. I’m sure something will pop up. You’ve got to wait and see how it all pans out, but to be involved in a couple of franchises playing Twenty20 cricket would suit me pretty well.”

Tait bristled when asked to respond to CA’s comments this week that he remained in contention for the English one-day series after the Ashes.

“It’s pretty easy for CA to say get yourself ready for a tournament when they haven’t given you a contract. I could quite easily duck off to the Greek Islands for a couple of months if I wanted to. I’ll keep myself fit and I’ll keep bowling and if something does come up well that’d be good.”

Tait also said that chairman of selectors Andrew Hilditch was actually “sugar-coating things” when he claimed the fast bowler had taken the news of his demotion well on account of being “a great bloke”.